MONROE - The City of Monroe Common Council met in closed session at the end of its regular meeting Tuesday to discuss two new employment agreements.
Each employment agreement was part of a resolution that would also create a new city job and re-position a current employee into the new position.
George Thompson, current wastewater utility superintendent, was to be placed as the new Water and Wastewater director. Rob Jacobson, current Technical Services director, was to be become the new Technical and IT Services director.
The positions come with an increase in salary for both men.
City Clerk Carol Stamm said the employment agreements will be back on the council agenda for its Oct. 4 meeting.
Council members could discuss qualifications and compensation but take no final action in Monday's closed session, she said.
Aldermen can still move to change or amend the proposed resolutions at a later time.
The council unanimously approved a third city change in positions, for Ellen Miller, from the assessor's office to the deputy clerk position at an hourly pay rate of $16.80, effective Nov. 7, and approved an updated job description for deputy clerk .
The Water and Wastewater director job description and employment agreement had passed through the Salary and Personnel Committee and been recommended to the council earlier Tuesday.
Thompson's annual salary as the chief administrative officer for the city's water and wastewater utilities would begin at $75,000. The agreement as presented to council Tuesday would require Thompson to obtain and maintain extra state certification within 18 months of hiring, at which time the salary would increase to $85,000. The position was to have begun Sept. 21, if approved.
The city hired Thompson, an engineer from Verona, as Wastewater Treatment Utility Superintendent May 18 at an annual salary of $67,000. He replaced Jerry Ellefson, who retired as supervisor after 40 years with the department.
The position is part of a merger of the two utilities, authorized by the Board of Public Works and Salary and Personnel Committee. The city expects to save money without cutting employees. Some savings would come from better coordinating project planning, according to Thompson. Combining administration, operation and maintenance staff is expected to reduce overhead expenses, and the positions of some employees about to retire will not be immediately refilled.
Jacobson's annual salary as Technical and IT Services director, a departmental administrative position, would start at $57,000. This position also was to have begun Sept. 21.
The city hired Jacobson in January 2008 as the police department technical services director at an annual salary of $40,000. Jacobson fulfilled the probationary period in September 2008 and received an increase of $1,800 at that time.
Jacobson administers and maintains the county-wide Spillman data system and network, as well as information technology (IT) duties. He also handles maintenance and scheduling of the police department vehicle fleet, radio system and computer equipment.
Duties under the new position would include directing and supervising all technical and civilian support services functions, including all city government computer and communication systems. The new job description also notes the coordination is a "city function rather than a billable vendor function."
Mayor Bill Ross announced at the beginning of the council meeting Tuesday that the Jacobson agreement would be moved to the end of the agenda for the evening and discussed in a closed session of the full council. Later in the meeting, Alderman Michael Boyce motioned to move the Thompson agreement into closed session as well. The motion passed 5 to 4, with aldermen Neal Hunter, Jan Lefevre, Charles Koch and Tyler Schultz voting against.
Each employment agreement was part of a resolution that would also create a new city job and re-position a current employee into the new position.
George Thompson, current wastewater utility superintendent, was to be placed as the new Water and Wastewater director. Rob Jacobson, current Technical Services director, was to be become the new Technical and IT Services director.
The positions come with an increase in salary for both men.
City Clerk Carol Stamm said the employment agreements will be back on the council agenda for its Oct. 4 meeting.
Council members could discuss qualifications and compensation but take no final action in Monday's closed session, she said.
Aldermen can still move to change or amend the proposed resolutions at a later time.
The council unanimously approved a third city change in positions, for Ellen Miller, from the assessor's office to the deputy clerk position at an hourly pay rate of $16.80, effective Nov. 7, and approved an updated job description for deputy clerk .
The Water and Wastewater director job description and employment agreement had passed through the Salary and Personnel Committee and been recommended to the council earlier Tuesday.
Thompson's annual salary as the chief administrative officer for the city's water and wastewater utilities would begin at $75,000. The agreement as presented to council Tuesday would require Thompson to obtain and maintain extra state certification within 18 months of hiring, at which time the salary would increase to $85,000. The position was to have begun Sept. 21, if approved.
The city hired Thompson, an engineer from Verona, as Wastewater Treatment Utility Superintendent May 18 at an annual salary of $67,000. He replaced Jerry Ellefson, who retired as supervisor after 40 years with the department.
The position is part of a merger of the two utilities, authorized by the Board of Public Works and Salary and Personnel Committee. The city expects to save money without cutting employees. Some savings would come from better coordinating project planning, according to Thompson. Combining administration, operation and maintenance staff is expected to reduce overhead expenses, and the positions of some employees about to retire will not be immediately refilled.
Jacobson's annual salary as Technical and IT Services director, a departmental administrative position, would start at $57,000. This position also was to have begun Sept. 21.
The city hired Jacobson in January 2008 as the police department technical services director at an annual salary of $40,000. Jacobson fulfilled the probationary period in September 2008 and received an increase of $1,800 at that time.
Jacobson administers and maintains the county-wide Spillman data system and network, as well as information technology (IT) duties. He also handles maintenance and scheduling of the police department vehicle fleet, radio system and computer equipment.
Duties under the new position would include directing and supervising all technical and civilian support services functions, including all city government computer and communication systems. The new job description also notes the coordination is a "city function rather than a billable vendor function."
Mayor Bill Ross announced at the beginning of the council meeting Tuesday that the Jacobson agreement would be moved to the end of the agenda for the evening and discussed in a closed session of the full council. Later in the meeting, Alderman Michael Boyce motioned to move the Thompson agreement into closed session as well. The motion passed 5 to 4, with aldermen Neal Hunter, Jan Lefevre, Charles Koch and Tyler Schultz voting against.